September 21, 2025 – the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Ascension Cathedral of the city of Almaty.
Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: the Vicars of the Astana Diocese – Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; the Dean of the Almaty churches and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; the Spiritual Father of the Almaty Diocese, Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov); Vice-Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Hegumen Agafangel (Gagua); the Sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Metropolis Department for Public Relations, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov; the Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolis, Candidate of Theology Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; a member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, Hegumen Philipp (Moiseev); Dean of the 1st Yegoryevsk District Archpriest Sergey Kozhevnikov (Kolomna Diocese); Rector of the Church of the Mother of God “The Healer” in Voronezh, Priest Anatoly Epifanov (Voronezh Metropolis); the Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky); the Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Hieromonk Kheruvim (Levin); Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; the Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon Vitaly Bystrushkin; Deacon Ioann Zhuchkov; Deacon Georgy Tkachenko; Deacon Daniil Pasyuk.
Praying at the service were: V.M. Kapsamun, President of the public foundation Eleos-Meirim; staff of the Almaty Diocesan Administration; and parishioners of the main church of the Southern Capital.
Liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Metropolis (conductor – Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, choirmaster – V. Dudareva) and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral (conductor – E. Boguslavets).
The homily after the Communion verse was delivered by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the Magnification of the Feast was sung – hierarchs, clergy, choir, and the faithful chanted the troparion, kontakion, and magnification of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
On behalf of the clergy and the faithful, Archpriest Valery Zakharov congratulated the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan on the anniversary of his monastic tonsure. Thirty-six years ago, Archbishop Chrysanf (Chepil; † January 4, 2011), then Archbishop of Kirov and Slobodskoy (from 2004 – Metropolitan of Vyatka and Slobodskoy), tonsured the future Kazakh hierarch into monasticism with the name Alexander – in honor of St. Alexander of Svir, in the domestic chapel of the episcopal residence dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” in the city of Kirov.
The Head of the Metropolis thanked Archpriest Valery Zakharov, hierarchs, clergy, and faithful for their prayerful good wishes, offered congratulations on the Nativity of the Ever-Virgin Mary, and delivered a sermon.
At the end of the service, His Eminence congratulated Bishop Gennady on the 35th anniversary of his priestly ministry, wishing the hierarch many more years of diligently proclaiming the words of eternal life, inspiring people by good example to fulfill the Gospel commandments, and kindling the fire of faith in the hearts of clergy and laity with his love for God and His Holy Church. As a prayerful gift, Metropolitan Alexander presented his vicar with a commemorative panagia.
The video recording of the service was carried out by the Kazakhstan Metropolis studio Semirechye (director – Honored Worker of Culture V.L. Posadneva, cameraman – A. Schmidt); photography – staff member of the Information Department A. Shcheglov.
“Today the Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos – the beginning of the great and incomprehensible mystery of the Incarnation and our salvation. At the dawn of time, our forebears sinned – they transgressed God’s commandment by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. But the Lord did not leave humanity without hope – to Adam and his wife was given the consoling promise that ‘the Seed of the Woman will crush the serpent’s head’ (cf. Gen. 3:15), that in some wondrous way salvation would come to mankind and the power of sin and death would be abolished. For thousands of years humanity awaited the coming of the Savior. The mystery of salvation was gradually revealed in the Old Testament, in foreshadowings, prophecies, and visions – in ‘Jacob’s ladder,’ the ‘Burning Bush,’ the ‘Ark of the Covenant,’ the ‘fleece of Gideon.’ It was especially vividly proclaimed to the world by the Prophet Isaiah, the Old Testament Evangelist, who foretold: ‘Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel’ (Is. 7:14). Not immediately was the weary human race granted the Most Holy Virgin. She appeared as the fruit of the centuries-long history of the chosen people, the fruit of the spiritual striving and labors of its best representatives. The Old Testament era was drawing to a close. And finally the time came for the appearance in the world of this Divine and most pure Vessel – the Virgin Mother of God. As Tradition tells us, the Most Holy Virgin came from the line of King David. Her pious parents – Joachim and Anna – lived in Nazareth, a small town west of the Sea of Galilee. Both were righteous people, known not for royal lineage but for their humility and mercy. Yet one sorrow troubled their pure hearts: into their old age they had no children. This sorrow is understandable, for in those days barrenness was seen as God’s punishment for sin. Therefore, despite their old age, Joachim and Anna did not cease to pray that God would grant them a child. They vowed that if a child were born, they would dedicate the infant to the service of the Most High. For their patience, great faith, love for God and for each other, the Lord granted them great joy – they had a Daughter, whom the happy parents named Mary. The birth of Mary brought joy not only to her parents but to all mankind, for by God’s Providence she was destined to become the Mother of the Son of God, the Savior of the world. The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos teaches us to especially venerate the All-Blessed Virgin Mary – the source and intercessor of our salvation. Serving the mystery of the Incarnation, the Theotokos has forever become for all Christians a Mother, a fervent Protectress, a warm intercessor and intercessory prayer before the Throne of the Most High. The example of the Ever-Virgin’s parents – the prayerful diligence, patience, and humility of the righteous Joachim and Anna – inspires us as well to firm faith and trust in the mercy of God.”
From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.
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